NASA Crew Completes 9-Month ISS Stay, Initially an 8-Day Plan

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have completed an unexpected nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), concluding a mission initially planned to last only eight days. The mission returned NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. The spacecraft splashed down off the Florida coast near Tallahassee after undocking from the ISS on Mar. 18.

Wilmore and Williams were originally part of the crew for Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which launched in June 2024 as part of a test flight. The mission was expected to last just one week, but technical issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system prompted NASA to return the spacecraft without passengers and keep the astronauts aboard the ISS. During their extended stay, they conducted research and maintenance activities.

Their return was made possible after the arrival of Crew-10 on Mar. 15, 2025, marking the end of their prolonged assignment.

The Crew Dragon capsule undocked from the ISS at 1:05 AM (ET) on Mar. 18, 2025, beginning a 17-hour journey back to Earth. Splashdown was scheduled for approximately 5:57 PM (ET) in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida, with recovery teams on standby.

NASA expedited the return due to favorable weather conditions. “Crew-9 is going home,” said Commander Nick Hague just before undocking. He described the mission as "a privilege to be part of, contributing to humanity’s progress in space exploration."

The extended mission stemmed from delays with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which faced multiple setbacks. While NASA initially planned to return the astronauts using Starliner, the system’s malfunction necessitated a switch to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.

The prolonged stay sparked some political controversy. Former US President Donald Trump criticized NASA’s decision to leave the astronauts on the ISS, alleging political motivations—a claim NASA did not substantiate. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, CEO, SpaceX, pushed for a faster resolution, advocating for Crew Dragon's use to ensure the astronauts’ safe return.